Black History Month 2026

Throughout October, communities, schools, organisations and institutions across the country will honour the contributions of Black people to Britain’s past, present and future.

This year’s theme, “Honouring Our Communities,” invites us to recognise the individuals whose everyday contributions shape, support and sustain Black life across the United Kingdom.

ABOUT BLACK HISTORY MONTH UK

Black history is an integral part of Britain’s national story. While October provides a focused opportunity for engagement, our work is rooted in a year-round commitment to visibility, education and recognition.

Black history is not a specialist subject or an add-on to the curriculum. It is present in our towns and cities, in public service, in the arts, in business, in faith communities and in family memory. It forms part of the social, cultural and civic development of the United Kingdom.

Our responsibility is to ensure this history is documented, shared and understood with integrity.

Black History Month UK was established to create space for reflection, recognition and informed discussion. We work to:

Recognise the historic and contemporary contributions of Black people in Britain
Support accurate, inclusive and accessible education
Provide a trusted national platform for community voices
Preserve lived experience for future generations

Representation matters. Accuracy matters. Balance matters. Our work is guided by these principles.

THEME 2026: HONOURING OUR COMMUNITIES

Black History Month 2026 invites us to look more closely at something often taken for granted — the communities that shape, support and sustain us.

This theme is not simply about place or postcode. It is about people.

Across Britain, there are individuals whose contributions are part of everyday life, yet too often go unseen. Volunteers who give their time without expectation. Teachers who shape futures beyond the classroom. Nurses and carers who offer dignity and compassion. Community leaders who bring people together, often without recognition.

These are the people who help to hold our communities together.

Their work may not always be recorded, but it is felt — in relationships, in support systems, and in the spaces where people find belonging.

From early Black presence in Britain to the Windrush generation and beyond, community has been central to resilience, progress and identity. That legacy continues today — not only through major milestones, but through consistent, everyday contributions.

“Honouring Our Communities” is about making those contributions visible.

It asks us to consider whose work we value, whose stories we tell, and whose contributions we may have overlooked.

There is no single story of Black Britain. There are many communities, many experiences and many journeys. This theme creates space for that complexity — and for the individuals within those communities to be fully recognised.

WHAT WE DO

Black History Month UK operates as a publishing, educational and national recognition platform.

The Black History Month Magazine

Each year we publish the Black History Month Magazine, bringing together historical research, contemporary commentary, interviews and cultural insight.

The magazine provides a national record of contribution and leadership — documenting not only the past, but the present, recognising individuals and communities whose work shapes Britain today.

The Black History Month Resource Pack

Our annual Resource Pack supports schools, organisations and community groups in marking the month with confidence and historical clarity.

It includes structured themes, educational materials, profiles of significant figures and campaign resources designed to support meaningful engagement.

Education should be informed, accessible and grounded in evidence.

National Event Promotion

We provide free national promotion for events organised across the United Kingdom. Schools, charities, cultural institutions, faith groups and local organisers use our platform to share learning, celebration and dialogue.

Community participation is central to Black History Month UK. The month is shaped by those who contribute to it.

HONOURING BLACK BRITAIN 2026

In 2026, we are running Honouring Black Britain 2026 — a national recognition initiative aligned with this year’s theme.

This programme formally acknowledges Black individuals whose leadership, service and professional excellence have made a measurable contribution to British society — particularly those whose impact is felt within communities every day.

Black history is sustained through work that often goes unrecognised. Through this initiative, we ensure that service, commitment and impact are formally recorded and honoured.

Selected honourees may be:

Profiled within Black History Month UK editorial features
Included in national campaign materials
Recognised as part of Black History Month 2026

The process is independently reviewed and panel-selected to ensure integrity and national representation.

We invite the public to take part.

Is there someone in your community whose contribution deserves recognition? Someone who gives their time, supports others, or makes a lasting impact?

Submit a nomination:
https://www.blackhistorymonth.org.uk/submit-a-nomination-honouring-black-britain-2026/

WHY THIS WORK MATTERS

History shapes identity. It shapes belonging. It shapes understanding.

When contributions are overlooked or undocumented, the national story becomes incomplete. Black History Month UK exists to ensure that Britain’s story reflects the full diversity of the people who have shaped it.

This work is not symbolic. It is about recognition, record and responsibility

LOOKING AHEAD TO OCTOBER 2026

Black History Month UK 2026 invites individuals, organisations and communities across the country to take part in learning, reflection and recognition.

You can engage by: